Disclaimer: Original Character and Plot is mine. Everything else is J.K. Rowling's brilliant mind.
A/N: So I needed a break from trying to REwrite that last chapter of "Should Have Known - Should Have Been". It's what happens when you get frustrated after a 10K Word Chapter gets deleted and 5 chapters of your next story does too. So I decided to break this idea out of my head. It's been racking my brain for awhile as well so I hope you enjoy!
CRACK! The sound of a bone breaking echoed through the midnight thunderstorm that was currently hounding the area for the past hour. Harry Potter never expected this acquaintance from his past to show up on his doorstep. Harry Potter also did not expect his hand to collide with that person's nose. But what startled him the most was a small voice that suddenly came from thin air and a head of curly blonde hair jumping on the man who was currently sporting a bloody nose.
"DADDY!" The small girl jumped into her father's arms and held him right. Suddenly four more younger children appeared. The oldest looking no more than seven years old.
"Minnie! Father told us to stay under the cloak." The oldest young man yelled frantically to his sister. He was the spitting image of Draco Malfoy, but with some familiar chocolate brown eyes.
"BUT THIS MAN HURT DADDY." She screamed back, crying and hugging Draco Malfoy to the point that he might choke.
Harry turned his attention back to where the older boy stood. Huddling close to the older boy were three younger children who looked no more than 3 years old. Thunder sounded through the area and the children jumped, but surprisingly remained calm. Only closing their eyes and holding their brother closer.
Harry Potter suddenly looked to the man in front of him coddling the young girl and reassuring her he'd be ok.
5 children? What are you doing at my doorstep Malfoy. It seemed that Harry tried to telepathically communicate to Draco through burning eyes.
The girl calmed down and suddenly looked up at Harry and asked, "Daddy who is this man?" No way. Harry thought as he took in the young child's face.
"Minnie, this is your Uncle Harry. He's going to help us bring your mother home." Draco announced.
"Malfoy now why on Earth would I do that?" Harry asked surprised. He felt like he already knew what answer was coming, but he needed the confirmation.
"Because their mother is Hermione Granger, Potter. Are you going to help me bring your best friend home or just let her children freeze on your doorstep?" Draco announced rhetorically.
Harry Potter suddenly looked as if he was about to faint.
The Potter abode was quite the establishment. It wasn't any Malfoy Manor, but Hermione and Draco didn't live lavishly in France either. Both well off they decided to raise their family in a home large enough to have all of them, with guests but not seem empty and wandering at the same time. Draco rather liked having a smaller home than a huge house to live in like the manor he had been accustomed to when he was growing up. It was warmer, it felt like a real home and you always knew someone you loved was not too far.
The Malfoy's now found themselves in the living room of the Potter home. Thankful for the tea and hot chocolate that Ginny Potter had given them, a drying and warming charm, and blankets. Draco had been able to cast a spell on himself to fix his nose and cleaned up the blood off his face and clothes.
This was the last sort of company Ginny Potter had expected to come down to see in her home tonight. But welcome at the very most. When she had spoken to Hermione years ago, she had a gut feeling in her stomach that the man that stole her best friend's heart was no other than the Ferret God himself. But to finally see her children. Ginny's heart exploded at the sight of them. She wanted to hug and coddle them, but taking in their appearances she could tell they had been through hell and high waters tonight. A look on a child's face after the war they had just recently won.
Harry and Ginny were now sitting in the couch across from them ready to listen. They wanted to know what happened to their best friend who had left England years ago to follow this new job prospect in France. But it also was upheld in the upmost confidentiality so other than floo calls, quick visits, throughout the years they didn't know much about their friend.
While Ginny and Harry waited patiently, Draco took in the home once again. The Potter's had three children which he knew of because of Hermione. While she may not of been able to divulge about her life, their life, she knew everything about her friends back home.
What didn't surprise him was the pictures that they had of Hermione in their home, even the good ol' Weasel himself. The pictures of Hermione were scattered throughout the years. Some at Hogwarts, of the Burrow which Hermione had told him of, and after the war before Draco guessed she came to France and they had fallen in love.
Draco looked down at his tea and then to his children. He missed his wife terribly.
Harry and Ginny watched the exchange of looks between Draco and what they had now confirmed as Hermione's children as well. Harry's voice suddenly broke through Draco's thoughts."How did this happen?" Harry suddenly blurted out. Harry had honestly wanted to punch Draco again for letting Hermione get into danger but thought against it for the children he thought to himself.
Draco look amused before he spoke. "The children or Hermione being kidnapped Potter?"
Ginny let out a snort and Harry relieved that the tension had been broken replied, "Hermione, though I'd like to know about the children as well."
"Well if I may ask, Ginny is there anywhere my children may sleep? I would rather them not know too much before they need to." Draco asked sincerely.
"Yes of course. We have four guest rooms, enough room for everyone. Will your children come with me?" Ginny inquired.
"They will." Draco assured her. He suddenly turned to his children next to him. "This is your Aunt Ginny." Which Draco could see out of the corner of his eye that Ginny was very comfortable and happy at this title."She is going to take you to sleep. I need you well rested alright? Your mother would have a conniption if I didn't get you lot to bed at least." He said lighting the dire situation at hand for their children.
"But father!" The oldest boy yelled out.
"No 'but father' Scorp. You will go up to bed. Help your Aunt Ginny get your siblings ready and into bed. Can you do that for me son?" He asked sternly.
"But I want to help bring Mum home!" He said pleading with his father.
"The most you can do right now is help me with your siblings! That is how you can help me. Now be mindful of your Aunt and Uncle."
"Some Aunt and Uncle Father! He broke your nose." Scorpius stood up.
"No Scorpius. You will not be rude in your Aunt and Uncle's home." Draco said now in the most unexpected parental voice Harry never expected to come out. "Now apologize."
Finally Scorpius hung his head in defeat. "Yes Father." He turned to Harry and Ginny Potter. "Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny I am sorry I am being rude in your home. I do hope you take my apology."
Impressed with his manners both Potters nodded their understanding and told him it was alright. Quietly all five children got up from the couch and made to move towards Ginny.
Suddenly the youngest little girl ran back towards Draco and hugged his knee.
"Daddy. I want Mummy." The girl sobbed.
Draco's face saddened and he got up and knelt in front of the child. "Aurora, darling." He started as he pushed some hair out of her face. "Your Uncle Harry and I will do everything we can to bring Mummy home."
"What about the bad man?" Aurora suddenly whispered. Draco's face hardened and then pulled the child into a hug.
"That bad man won't come near us ever again. I promise." He said holding the child closely. He then pulled back and let his left arm out looking at the other children. They all ran into his arms toppling over, but still determined to hug their father tightly.
After a few moments of "I love you's" and "Go to beds." The children walked away with Ginny to go to bed.
Draco brushed had himself off and positioned himself on the couch across from Harry again.
"What happened to her Malfoy?" Harry dove right into it.
"What has Hermione told you about her job Potter?" Draco sat up.
"Not much. She said her job was completely confidential, but it was almost like being an Auror. Except no one knew what she did. But it was also dangerous, no one could know what or who she was associated with." Harry replied. It sounded weird, his best friend his whole life couldn't tell him a thing. But if it kept her safe he'd understand.
"Right you are Potter. We are held to the utmost confidentiality. This also includes our family." He motioned his head upstairs where his children currently were.
"So why is Hermione in danger now? She would always follow protocol." Harry then corrected himself. "As long as it was morally correct." Thinking to all the times Hermione had vended the rules during their young adventures and during the war.
"Have you heard of a Dark Wizard called Barthalemou?" Draco inquired.
Harry shook his head no. "Of course you haven't. Our organization took it among themselves to keep it hidden from the rest of the world as to keep panic from starting." Draco stood up and started to pace. "Hermione and I took him down 6 years ago right before we had Minnie and we semi-retired." He said his features softening at the thought of his family. "But something went wrong a year ago. He escaped and no one knew how until finally Hermione figured it out tonight." Draco turned to Potter.
"It looks like your organization wasn't as secret as it was." Harry added mindfully.
"It was an inside job Potter. One of our own betrayed us." Draco added darkly. "For the past year wherever we went Hermione felt like there was someone always following us. When you retire from the work we do, they give you all the best security and security measures in the world for 10 years, 15 depending on what cases you covered." Harry's eyes shot up in surprise.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"It gives you a chance to transition back into society. Helps you to raise a family privately, allows you to find permanent residence safely without a criminal you may have apprehended or anyone associated with you to find them."
"That's why Hermione couldn't tell me anything." Harry now understood.
"Precisely. If Hermione told you any other further details of her life, all the work they do to protect us is now up in the air."
"So how did Barthalemou escape? How did he get to Hermione?" Harry now pleaded for the information. He was calm but now his heart was breaking.
"Like I said Potter it was an inside job. One of the personnel assigned to protect us, was the one who betrayed not only us but the entire organization. He let Barthalemou out and he let him into our home tonight after Hermione figured out the mole among us. Barthalemou killed everyone and burned the headquarters to the ground." Draco had resumed pacing and now had his hands clenched into fists that now turned his knuckles an even whiter shade of white if possible.
"Why is this Barthalemou so dangerous?" Harry wondered. "And if he was why wouldn't the rest of the world, the Ministries at least be told?" He asked Draco quickly, growing frustrated at the "organization" they worked for.
Draco suddenly had a dark look on his face and walked over to Harry. Harry stood up immediately ready for the information.
Thunder crackled in the air and the house was eerily quiet. Draco looked out the window as if to look for something or rather someone. He finally turned his attention back on Harry. "I didn't tell you Potter? Barthalemou is Bathalemou Lestrange. Bellatrix Lestrange's secret son."
A/N: BALL DROP. I know it's really early for the drama, but what better way to get the story going. This first chapter has been playing in my head since I started writing "Should Have Known - Should Have Been." Please review and let me know what you think so far!